News

Ohio & Erie Canalway Association Awards $363,000 in Grant Funding

The Strategic Initiative program funds enhancements to the Towpath Trail and Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area Akron, OH- The Ohio & Erie Canalway Association (OECA) will award $363,000 in Strategic Initiative funds to 14 organizations for projects and programs within the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area. The OECA Strategic Initiative Program is a competitive grant program that funds public and private organizations and political subdivisions for physical developme......Read More

Wednesday, September 28, 2016 - Brecksville, OH - The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park will be closed to the general public starting at dusk Saturday, October 8 until 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 9. All of the parking lots along the Towpath Trail from Frazee House Trailhead to Botzum Trailhead including Indigo Lake Trailhead will be closed. Expect limited delays due to short road closures in the morning hours on Sunday, October 9. The closure is due to the 25th Annu......Read More

Celebrating 100 Years of the National Park Service

August 10, 2016 - On August 25, 2016, the National Park Service turns 100. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) and the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area will be celebrating the occasion with a series of events for the whole family. National Heritage Areas such as the Ohio & Erie Canalway are designated by Congress as places where natural, cultural, and historic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape. The Ohio & Erie Canalway extends from Clevelan......Read More

Ohio and Erie Canalway joins “Passport to Your National Parks” program

June 9, 2016 - The Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area has joined the “Passport to Your National Parks” program. The program is designed to encourage visitation and interest in National Park Service sites. The Ohio & Erie Canalway is an affiliated unit of the National Park Service. Park visitors can purchase a Passport book which provides a place to collect commemorative stamps and park cancellations. Cancellation stamps are free of charge, and will be available at a growing number of ve......Read More

Gear Up for Bike Aboard! 2016

Peninsula, Ohio - The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) kicks off the 2016 Bike Aboard! season on Saturday, April 2. Cyclists can ride their bikes through the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail and take the train back for just $3 per person (Ages 3 and older). The ticket applies to a one-way trip, once per day. The program will be available during the regular train schedule on Saturdays and Sundays in April and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning in May. Passengers pay fare when they board......Read More

Cuyahoga Valley National Park Celebrates 100th Anniversary of National Park Service

Six Marquee Events and 94 Other Ways to Revel in Our National Park Brecksville, Ohio – Cuyahoga Valley National Park is inviting everybody to celebrate the National Park Service Centennial with more than 100 things to do – special concerts, picnics, and train rides, plus everyday activities like hiking, biking and more. “It’s a great time to showcase all that the National Park Service offers and introduce this park to the next generation,” says Craig Kenkel, superintendent of Cuyahoga Valley Natio......Read More

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Announces Special Offer for February

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is offering a special discount for passengers during the month of February. The All-Day Pass, National Park Scenic coach ticket will be $15 for adults and $10 for children. Enjoy the winter scenery of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park aboard the warm and comfortable train. The discount begins on Saturday, Feb. 6. This offer only applies to coach tickets for the National Park Scenic Excursion. The train runs on Saturdays only through Feb. 27. Please visit cvsr.com to purcha......Read More

Cuyahoga Valley National Park Remains Eleventh in Visitation!

Brecksville, Ohio - It was announced today that visitation at America’s national parks broke all-time records in 2015. The positive numbers are attributed to the fact that since 2015, the National Park Service has been celebrating its 2016 Centennial with a major push to encourage more visitors to experience their national parks. In the recently released report by Director Jonathan B. Jarvis, there were 306.7 million visits to national parks, up five percent from 2015, which also was a record-setting ye......Read More

Temporary Towpath Closure - Cleveland Metroparks

Cleveland Metroparks - Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation Please note, the northern mile or so of contiguous Towpath Trail is closed until January 25th. The section stretches from the Cleveland Metroparks Harvard Road lot just north of the five mile marker heading south to just before the six mile marker -- all within Cleveland Metroparks Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation. All public access will be blocked due to danger from large holes involved in the project....Read More

Visitor Update - On weekdays in January, the Towpath is closed from Station Road Bridge Trail to 2,500 feet north of Station Road. Brecksville, Ohio – The National Park Service (NPS) has temporarily closed the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) from the Station Road Trailhead for approximately 2,500 feet north along the Towpath Trail beginning now through late January. The closure is in effect Monday through Friday only from 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. during the closu......Read More

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) Announces Veterans Day Event

Peninsula, Ohio – Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) invites veterans, active duty military, first responders and up to three family members to take a train ride through Cuyahoga Valley Nation Park for free on Wednesday, November 11. The train will depart from two locations: – Rockside Station, located at 7900 Old Rockside Rd, Independence, OH at 9:30 a.m ., and from – Akron Northside Station, located at 27 Ridge St., Akron, OH at 2:30 p.m. The free tickets will be available at both stations 45 minu......Read More

There's a new view in town - on the Towpath that is

The Towpath follows a new one-mile route in Akron Akron, OH – Beginning the week of November 2, 2015, the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail will treat hikers and bicyclists to new views of Akron. A one-mile Towpath section – between the current Memorial Parkway and Mustill Store Trailheads – has been created and re-mapped out along Hickory Street. This is being done to accommodate a needed work-around during the construction of the Akron Waterways Renewed! project. This new Towpath Trail route p......Read More

24th Annual Towpath Marathon - 10/11/2015

24th Annual Towpath Marathon set to welcome runners across North America to the National Heritage Area and the National Park SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO – "The Towpath Marathon brings together everything we're focused on in the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area - culture, history, recreation and nature. And, it's one of the best ways we can think of to celebrate Fall in our region." These were the words used by race organizer & Canalway Partners Executive Director Tim Donovan to describe the r......Read More

Towpath Trail adds "magical" new Trailhead

Barberton, Ohio – June 5, 2015 – It was a sunny day in the "Magic City" of Barberton, Ohio on Friday, June 5th, when the newest Towpath Trailhead - the "Magic Mile" Trailhead - was officially opened by County of Summit Executive Russell M. Pry, Barberton Mayor William Judge, the Barberton Community Foundation, representatives of Medical Mutual of Ohio and its Family of Companies, Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study, City Architecture and so many more community leaders and members. Y......Read More

Countryside Farmers' Markets Hit Million-Dollar Mark

2014 Sees $1 Million in Local Food Sales During 10th Anniversary Season Peninsula, Ohio – Countryside Conservancy is pleased to announce its Countryside Farmers’ Markets reached $1 million in sales in 2014. The record, reached during the Markets' 10th anniversary, shows strong support for local business and a growing trend toward conscious food choices. Countryside Farmers’ Markets showcase offerings from 64 different small businesses in Northeast Ohio. Market vendors offer a wide range of sustainable f......Read More

Stark County District Library to host BikeSmart Launch Celebration during First Friday in June

June 1, 2015 (Canton, OH) – Stark County District Library is hosting a BikeSmart Launch Celebration during First Friday on June 5, 2015. In collaboration with Stark Parks and Canton Parks and Recreation, Stark County District Library is launching BikeSmart, Stark County’s Bike Share. The idea for BikeSmart came out of a TomTod Dreamoratory session where middle school students devised the concept that Stark County could use a free bike rental system. After researching the concept, the library, Stark Park......Read More

Canal Buffs - The St. Helena III comes out of dry dock May 4th

St. Helena III Canal Boat Season Opening The St. Helena III Canal Boat will be brought out of the McLaughlin Dry Dock on Monday, May 4, 2015 at 7:30 a.m., with the help of a crane from Lindsay Concrete. The dry dock is located along the historic Ohio & Erie Canal in St. Helena Heritage Park in Canal Fulton, Ohio. The 2015 season will commence on Saturday, May 16th. Public rides are offered at 1:00pm and 2:30pm. Rides will be offered on weekends only from May 16th through May 31st. Beginning June 6th......Read More

Abraham Lincoln’s Journey Home - NPS Program in Cleveland, Tuesday, April 28

Abraham Lincoln’s Journey Home: A Celebration of the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln on the 150 th of his national funeral, April 18 - May 3, 2015 Program in Cleveland on Tuesday, April 28, 7 p.m. at Old Stone Church Brecksville, Ohio - The National Park Service invites the public to join them in commemorating the 150th anniversary of the funeral of Abraham Lincoln with programs that honor his legacy in each of the major cities that held a funeral for Lincoln in 1865, from Washington, DC to Sp......Read More

April 9 - “Bells across the Land: A Nation Remembers Appomattox”

Join the National Park Service in Ringing “Bells across the Land: A Nation Remembers Appomattox” For the past four years, the National Park Service and many other organizations and individuals have been commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War and the continuing efforts for human rights today. On April 9, 1865, Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant met Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee to set the terms of surrender of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. In conjunction with a major event at Appomattox Court ......Read More

Brown Bill to Renew National Heritage Area Designation for the Ohio & Erie Canalway Heads to President's Desk

Happy News from the Office of United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area Includes Towpath Trail that Runs Through Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark, and Tuscarawas Counties WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) legislation that would renew the National Heritage designation of the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area – which includes more than 86 miles of the Towpath Trail in Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark, and Tuscarawas Counties – he......Read More

Metro Catholic’s Fifth Grade Loves Cycling School in CVNP!

Bikes + Cuyahoga Valley National Park + 20 "Cycling School” volunteers + Hot dogs + 57 fifth graders By Mary Lou Toler, Grade Five Teacher, Metro Catholic All these things added up to one amazing Fall day where Science, Physical Education, history and Metro Catholic's social justice theme of "Care for God's Creation" came together. On October 17, the 5th graders experienced a day of bike riding in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It began in a field filled with bikes provided by the Cycling School and ......Read More

Stark Parks to Dedicate Final Towpath Trail Connection

A ceremonial ribbon pulling is planned for November 12, at 12:30 p.m. on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Viaduct to celebrate the final Towpath Trail connection through Massillon. The new route features an asphalt trail under Lincoln Way and under Tremont with a switchback up to the southern sidewalk on Tremont to complete the near 26-mile Towpath Trail through Stark County. Retired Congressman and Towpath Trail visionary, Ralph Regula, will be the featured speaker, with additional remarks by......Read More

23rd Annual Towpath Marathon - an international draw!

23rd Annual Towpath Marathon set to welcome 2,100+ runners from more than 30 States, Canada, Belgium and Ireland SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO – The 23rd Annual Towpath Marathon - a Canalway Partners event taking place on Sunday, October 12th - is set to draw 2,100+ participants to the starting lines in the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area. Runners will arrive from over 30 States as well as Canada, Belgium and Ireland for ......Read More

Towpath Trail Closed For Annual Towpath Marathon

Brecksville, Ohio - The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) will be closed to the general public starting at dusk beginning Saturday, October 11 until 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 12. All of the parking lots along the Towpath Trail from Frazee House Trailhead to Botzum Trailhead including Indigo Lake Trailhead will be closed. The closure is due to the 23rd Annual Canalway Partners Towpath Marathon, a specialty marathon, half marathon, and 10K race, sponsored by Canal......Read More

NHA 30th Anniversary Celebration - 8/24 - 8/31

National Heritage Areas 30 Years Later - Telling America's Stories and Making a Difference Washington, D.C. & Cleveland - Thirty years ago, on August 24th, 1984, the first National Heritage Area (NHA) in the country - the Illinois & Michigan (I&M) Canal National Heritage Corridor - was signed into being by President Ronald Reagan. To date, 49 National Heritage Areas have received this Congressional designation and are actively working within their respective footprints to collaboratively pre......Read More

Around the Ohio & Erie Canalway in 31 Days! launches today

Month-long, online quest can turn into real-world adventures CUYAHOGA, SUMMIT, STARK, TUSCARAWAS COUNTIES, Ohio - August 1, 2014 - Every day in August, residents and fans of Northeast Ohio are invited to explore their knowledge of the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area (NHA) and its partners, by playing an online, daily quest called: Around the Ohio & Erie Canalway in 31 Days! Through the online quest, now in its fourth year, the Ohio & Erie Canalway works in concert with part......Read More

Canal Fulton Bicentennial Celebration

This just in from our partners in Canal Fulton - "It’s “the big one!" You're invited to break out your party hats, as the City of Canal Fulton turns 200 years old. The celebration will take place on Sunday, August 3, 2014 from 1-10 p.m. in St. Helena Heritage Park & along South Canal St. in Canal Fulton, OH. This will be a free event, filled with family-fun activities for the entire community. At the Celebration ... over 50 events! This event showcases both the rich heritage of......Read More

We're happy to report the following on 7/19/14 - Excellent news - The red fox that was stolen from the Wildlife Conservation Center has been found near Faircrest St. and Rt. 800, about a 20 minute drive from the center! It appears to be uninjured. Your Help is Requested A red fox that was undergoing rehabilitation has been stolen from Stark Park's wildlife center off Genoa Road. On July 18, park staff noticed that the cage wire had been cut and the red fox had been removed overnight. The juve......Read More

An Important Moment for Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area and NEO CLEVELAND – July 7, 2014 – Today, along the banks of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland’s Flats, community partners and elected representatives from the city, county, state and federal government were joined by approximately 200+ attendees for the official opening of the Scranton Flats/Towpath Trail. The $9-million public improvement project includes a new park and the first pu......Read More

VISITORS ALERT - EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER - WE'LL POST WHEN IT'S RESCHEDULED Enjoy a family-friendly evening in Canal Fulton this Saturday, June 14th. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy a free outdoor concert at Public Square at 7pm. Performing will be the Canal Fulton “Music Makers” Community Band. Public Square is located at the corner of N. Canal St. and Market St. in Canal Fulton. Free parking is available at St. Helena Heritage Park, located at 125 Tuscarawas St. ......Read More

Canal Exploration Center Grand Opening

Kids can meet mules, historic characters, and play games at day-long event Brecksville, Ohio – The National Park Service invites the public to the Grand Opening of Canal Exploration Center, in Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP), on Saturday, May 17, 2014, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You're invited to come discover canal heritage at the park’s newest attraction! Day-long activities include the following: Listen to canal music by musician Bob Ford Lock demonstrations with costumed interpreters and volun......Read More

Canalway Partners Hosts 25th Annual RiverSweep

Ohio's Largest Done-in-a-Day Clean-up hits the quarter century mark - Saturday, May 10th, 9 a.m. - Noon CLEVELAND, Ohio – Over the past 25 years, more than 16,400 volunteers - and counting! - have lent a hand on a Saturday in May for RiverSweep - Ohio's most successful environmental cleanup operation and Ohio's largest done-in-a-day cleanup. Close to 1,000 eco-conscious volunteers are expected to join this year’s event, taking place Saturday, May 10th from 9 a.m. - Noon. Hosted b......Read More

St. Helena III Canal Boat Season Opening

Canal Fulton, Ohio - The St. Helena III Canal Boat will be brought out of the McLaughlin Dry Dock on Thursday, May 1st at 7:30 AM, with the help of a crane from Lindsay Concrete. The dry dock is located along the historic Ohio & Erie Canal in St. Helena Heritage Park in Canal Fulton, Ohio. The 2014 season will commence on Saturday, May 3rd. Public rides are offered at 1:00pm and 2:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays through June 1st. Beginning June 3rd, public rides will be offered Tue......Read More

Peninsula, Ohio – Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) will be holding a canned food drive April 12 & 13, 2014 to benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. Passengers participating can climb aboard the National Park Scenic excursion and pay just $5 when they bring along a non-perishable item or $1 cash to donate. The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is a non-profit organization with a mission to Feed People and Fight Hunger. This year, 1 in 7 people in Northeast Ohio will face hunger, and t......Read More

Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail Closed Due Anticipated Flooding

Brecksville, Ohio – Due to anticipated flooding the National Park Service has closed the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park until further notice. Multiple sections of the trail are anticipated to be affected by flooding. The trail closure includes associated parking lots from Lock 39 Trailhead in Independence to Botzum Trailhead in Akron. National Park Service staff will make assessments of trail conditions for resource and visitor safety before reopening the trail. Ple......Read More

Craig Kenkel selected as new Superintendent at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Winter-Spring Service Starts for Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

Peninsula , OH - Opening weekend for Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s (CVSR) National Park Scenic Winter-Spring excursion schedule is January 18 and 19, 2014. The winter-spring schedule for the Scenic Excursions is limited and will vary January – May due to bridge repairs and construction. January through mid-March will include departures from the Akron Northside Station, the Brecksville Station and Peninsula Depot. Mid-March to April 27th service will be offered between Akron North......Read More

Volunteers Needed for Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Programs

Brecksville, Ohio - The National Park Service is seeking enthusiastic volunteers interested in sharing the wonders of Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) with riders aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR). Volunteers must be outgoing, reliable, friendly, and have a willingness to learn. Training will be provided for these exciting volunteer opportunities. Rail Rovers - Climb aboard CVSR and visit with passengers as they journey through CVNP. Distribute brochures, share information about the ......Read More

Cuyahoga Valley Receives “Climate Friendly Park” Status

Brecksville, Ohio – Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) has become the first national park site in Ohio to achieve the status of “Climate Friendly Park.” As a participant in the Climate Friendly Parks program (CFP), CVNP belongs to a network of 106 national parks nationwide that are committed to reducing resource consumption, cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and educating staff and the public about climate change and sustainability. Climate Friendly Parks (CFP) Program began as a partnership wit......Read More

Follow the Canalway

Hike and canoe along a scenic river. Stroll hand-in-hand through charming streets. Share over quiet meals. When it's time for a getaway, here's a great adventure for two. Begin your day at 9:30 a.m. with a morning adventure by the water. Park just outside of town at Zoar Lake Shelter (434 West Fifth Street, Zoar, Ohio 44697). Remember to bring a pen and your Canalway Quest brochure (see below). The Waters of the Tuscarawas Quest is a peaceful hike to the Tuscarawas River, passing ruins of past industries... More »

A Towpath was a Towing Path Bicyclists and walkers on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail today follow the same path that in the 1800s was used by mules and mule-drivers to pull canal boats—with some exceptions. Canal Fever , KSU Press, 2009 More »